Dred_85.5_TSI Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 Warning RANT beginning!!!!!!!!! You know what, I really can't stand people bad mouthing GM (ignoring their current ownership). My current driving cars are both GMs from the early 90s. They should be terrible quality, right????? First is my 1992 Oldsmobile Toronado base model, 3.8 liter, white and blue interior 172,xxx miles on it. Second is my 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix LE 3.1 Liter winter beater with 102,xxx miles on it. My Toro has never left me stranded and I've put 15k hard miles on it, I rebuilt the brakes and changed fluids plugs and wires when I bought it, it starts every time I turn the key And is comfortable as all get out. I paid $1550 for it. And its the last year they made these and is one of 1200 total produced. Now on to my real success story the GP, I bought this car from my boss at my last job with just under 72k on it for $150. Its rusty and dented but its a beater anyway. I rebuilt the brakes, changed plugs, wires, tire rod ends, and upper intake gasket set, changed fluids, added a CAI and a Autozone fartcan. since november 2008 I have beat on this car mercilessly for over 30k miles. it starts every time I turn the key and it runs better the more I abuse it I recently drove this car on round trip one day trips to pick up parts from TMAN in Ohio (~1000 miles) and from Garychoffmann in Missouri (~900miles) and it ran perfectly and all I did before hand was check fluid levels and tire pressure. It starts the same if its 100 degrees out or -10 degrees out. I intend to drive this car until it falls apart around me from the rust. I have maybe $750 in it total and I would not hesitate to drive it across the country at the drop of a hat. I know both of these cars like the back of my hand they are simple to work on, parts are cheap and easily attained, the GM 3.8 engines are literally bullet proof, the transmissions are great for FWD automatics, the 3.1 liter gets a bad rap and I'm not sure why because mine has been awesome. Now are these cars sports cars? No. Will they ever run 12 second 1/4 miles? No.Do they have a top speed 3 times the normal limit? No.Do they handle great? No. For what these cars are do I care about any of that? NO! They are what they are, reliable, cheap, daily transportation thats not going to get stolen by some thug looking for a joy ride.What more can I ask of them? And for everyone that says GM built crap cars, ha, I will laugh all the way to the bank and spend the money I save driving "crap" on my Quest! you can keep your Fords or Chryslers (Dodge trucks are great though), hondas, toyotas, or other current imported cars. ok other GM cars we (family) have owned: 1991 Olds 88, I wrapped this around a telephone pole with 250k on it and it ran great (still have the engine and trans) 1991 Olds 98 still ran good at ~230k when we sold it 1996 buick park avenue 282k+ and still going good End RANT. Sorry guys I needed to do this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 I'm right with you! They're my favorite US automaker by far, even tho they killed off my beloved Pontiac. I've owned mostly all imports, yet 3 of the cars in my top 5 most reliable list are GM's... 87 Celbrity Eurosport that I bought for $400 all rusty, but with only 88k. The only money I put into it was in gas and oil, oh, and a roll of window tint. I put 60k on it then let a friend borrow it providing he changed the oil right away since it was due, and keep it maintained while he had it. I got it back with the same oil and 10,000 more miles, so I changed the oil, sold it for $500 and that guy drove it trouble free for 2 more years til he wrecked it. 96 Grand Am GT- Got it with 50k spent nothing but tint oil and gas on it until I totalled it with 156k and got... 01 Grand Am GT- Is about to turn 160k, and has only had the alarm system ECU go out, but was covered under warranty. However, I am getting to the point I'm having to replace lots of steering and suspension components. We'll be replacing the Grand Am with either a Tahoe or a Caddy within the next year or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dred_85.5_TSI Posted March 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 Yeah you know the more I worked on my GP the more I appreciated it and the thought that went into it. The front suspension for example it has the normal style GM strut and spring setup, but, these cars had boxed lower control arms and a tubular front sway bar that is mounted to the control arm with a bushing and bracket that most cars would love to have tying their sway bar to the frame. no little bolt and rubber bushings here! Plus it has the 4 wheel Disc brakes non abs, this thing stops like crazy especially on dry roads, but even in the rain I really have to stomp on them to lock them up. The more I drive my GP the more I want to get another one from the same era just with less rust and dents Actually the tie rod ends I just replaced a few weeks ago in my drive way with hand tools in just over an hour and it was ~25 degrees out too, cured my vibrations in the steering and fixed my alignment too. Cost? $65. Oh yeah and mileage I forgot to mention that! My Toro will do ~30mpg highway and the GP about 28mpg highway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drwojo Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 The wife has a 3800 camaro and I absolutely hate it and love it at the same time. 3800 is a awesome motor but the rear main always seems to leak. Still plenty of power at 160k and trans is great. Is the interior crap....yes. Also For a surprise I redid all the struts/shocks and mounts. Who puts them in with torx bits. I really despise some things but there motor and trans are great. I will probably never own a chrysler (just don't like anything form them...at all). Mopar classics are cool but would rather GM. It could be that my uncle is one of the highest up guys in GM but it's about the only company I really support outright. I just wish they would make cars a little more competitive. They definitely have the capabilities but politics come into play too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 all car manufacturies build good ones and bads ones i am not a brand specific kinda guy i have fords,chevy,chrysler,toyota,honda,mitsubishi heck i even owned a yugo i had a ford fairmont 6 cyl couldnt kill it paid 150 for it drove it 3 years 0 problems i had a buick lesabre fwd had it like 5 years had tpp replace tranny when i got it but thats why i bought it for 200 bucks was a 2 door ttype my dodge dakota 318 magnum had it 3 or 4 years now bottom line is they all make bad and good ones just depends on how you take care of them and how they was taked care of before you got em (my brother has a chevette with 350xxx miles on never touched it changes oil and tires and brakes as needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan89quest Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 (edited) i have had my 98 chevy 1500 for 150,000 miles of its current 220,000 mile life. i put 1 fuel pump in it and regular oil changes, yearly tune ups, i drive the truck HARD. It reglarly pulls my 3,000lb 20ft car trailer with no problems. by far the most reliable vehical i have ever owned! everyone is always talking crap about the 5.7l vortec and i have yet to have any problems out of mine. i do have a odd truck tho it has the 14 bolt rearend and a 4l80e trans. (most have the 10 bolt and 4l60e) ihave and always will be a gm truck guy!! i have owned countless grand prixs and luminas of verious years from 84-01 had a few problematic ones but never had an unreliable one. have had 4 cutlass ceiras with no problems. owned 2 ford escorts a 91gt with 1.8l couldn't keep a head gasket in it for more than 6-7,000 miles and a 97 4door lx sport with the 2.0 and a 5speed i couldn't keep a transmission in it and it never made it out of warrenty b4 i got rid of it with 37,000 on it!! i currently have a 01 montero sport with 120,000 on it that has more problems than any gm i have ever owned. also have a 97 wrangler and a 94 grand cherokee both verry reliable. and my 89 quest that is as reliable as far as a quest goes lmao but it might just end up with a gm powerplant yet. Edited March 6, 2010 by nathan89quest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turborusty Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 (edited) Dude....you nailed it right off the bat........you stated "white with a blue interior" that says it all to me. Who, besides Toyota, makes white cars with blue interiors?.....and we all know toyota's judgement is in question, now don't we? But on a more serious note, I deal with the same thing with people saying what crap Dodge cars and trucks are. I've had 7+ trucks and even more Dodge/Chry./Ply. cars and all of them have been EXCELLENT vehicles as far as I'm concerned. I let the people say what they want, and I drive what I want. Turborusty Edited March 6, 2010 by Turborusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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